>> Wednesday, June 1, 2016

LAOAG CITY -- The Ilocos Network for the
Environment (Defend Ilocos) expressed its support for Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos
Isagani Zarate to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

This came a day after
online media and national broad sheets reported that Zarate was among
individuals to be nominated by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines
for the post.

“Defend Ilocos
strongly supports the nomination of Cong. Zarate for DENR Secretary,” said
Sherwin De Vera, the group’s regional coordinator.

The NDFP’s
shortlist is the group’s response to the offer of president-elect Rodrigo
Duterte to the Communist Party of the Philippines to take lead of four
government agencies that include DENR.

He added
Zarate’s track record of being critical to mining, logging, coal-powered plants
speaks well of his concern for environment. De Vera also took note of Zarate’s
long experience as a human rights lawyer.

“He is an ardent
defender of human rights, among the clients he defended in court are
environmental activists and indigenous peoples accused by the military of being
members of New People’s Army,” said De
Vera.

He added the
Davao-based legislator was co-author of House Resolution that called for the
investigation of members of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency who
were responsible for harassing him in 2014.

De Vera also said that
Zarate pursued the conduct of congressional Inquiry regarding the proliferation
of black sand mining operations in Northern Luzon and co-author of the People’s
Mining Bill.